Two firemen killed, three others hurt as truck falls into ditch

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

Two members of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Sibalom, Antique were killed after their truck dived into a shallow ravine morning of Aug 19, 2020.

Fire Officer 1 (FO1) Joy Ardaña, the truck driver, and FO1 Darryl John Peralta were believed to have died on the scene.

Fire Senior Superintendent Jerry Candido, BFP regional director, identified the injured personnel as FO1s Charmie Leigh Forro, Judy Baldone, and Rechel Lustica.

The incident happened around 10:15 am Wednesday after the BFP personnel participated in the Brigada Eskwela at Villafont Elementary School.

The team of five personnel was navigating a blind curve along Sitio Bato, Barangay Salvacion, Sibalom, when Ardaña allegedly lost control of the steering wheel.

He overshot the curve and rammed into a utility post of Antique Electric Cooperative (Anteco). The truck then plowed into an acacia tree and turned turtle towards the downhill side of the road.

They were able to call for help, a fellow BFP officer said.

The victims were rushed to Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital in San Jose town.

The three injured personnel were later transferred to a hospital in Iloilo City.

The Sibalom Police Station is investigating reports that the truck’s brake failed to work which led to the mishap.